Carrying case for musical instruments



Aug. 25, 1936. N. v. GEIB 2,051, 7

CARRYING CASE FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS- Fi'led April 4, 1935 Patented Aug. 25, 1936 UNITED STATES CARRYING CASE FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Nicholas V. Geib, Chicago, 111., assignor to Geib & Schaefer 00., Chicago, IlL, a corporation of Illinois Application April 4, 1935, Serial No. 14,561

4 Claims. I (Cl. 206-14) In general the present invention relates to cases for carrying or transporting musical instruments. More particularly the invention relates to that type of carrying case which is designed and shaped for use with a guitar or like string instrument and consists of a guitar shaped top and bottom and a strip of freely flexible material which extends between and is joined to the margins of the top and bottom and form freely collapsible side and end portions which are foldable inwardly and permit the top and bottom to be brought together into a collapsed position when the case is empty.

One object of the invention is to provide a carrying case of this type in which the top and bottom instead of being formed throughout of comparatively stiff fiber board as has heretofore been customary, comprise substantially rigid frames which are shaped to conform to the contour of the neck and body of the guitar and have coverings of flexible material which tend I to make the case as a whole extremely light and conform readily to the contour or shape of .the top and bottom faces of the guitar.

5 Another object of the invention is to provide a guitar case of the type and character under consideration in which the frame which is associated with and forms a part of the top of the case has a centrally disposed, longitudinally extending, strip which is secured at its end to the ends of the frame so that it braces the latter and is adapted to overlie and protect the guitar bridge and strings. A further object of the invention is to provide a collapsible type carrying case which includes collapsible braces whereby the top and bottom may if desired, while a guitar is in the case, be held in their separated or extended position.

A still further object of the invention is to 40 provide a carrying case which is generally of new and improved construction, may be manufactured at a low and reasonable cost, and is an improvement upon that which forms the subject matter of Letters Patent of the United States No.

45 1,986,393, granted to me January 1, 1935.

- Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the present carrying case construction will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed de- 50 scription.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof. V

55' In the drawing which accompanies and forms a part of this specification or disclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a perspective showing a carrying case embodying the invention with the top' and 5 bottom thereof held in their separated or extended position by means of the braces;

Figure 2 is a perspective of the case showing the top and bottom as well as the braces in their collapsed position; 10v

Figure 3 is a perspective of the frame which is associated with and to a part of the top of the case;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side view of the case showing in detail the construction and operation 15 of one of the collapsible braces which serve to hold. the top and bottom of the case in extended relation; and V Figure 5 is a vertical transverse section taken on. the line 55 of Figure 4, and illustrating in 20 detail the manner in which the strip of freely flexible material which forms the collapsible side and end portions of the case is secured or attached to the top and bottom.

The case which forms the subject matter of 5 the invention is designed for use in carrying or storing a guitar G or like string instrument. It is of the collapsible variety and comprises a top 6, a bottom Land a side and end forming strip 8. 30

The top 6 overlies and protects the top of the guitar when the guitar is disposed in the case, as shown in Figure 5, and consists of a frame 9 and a. covering ID. The frame 9 is formed of comparatively stiff fiber board so that it is rigid and consists of a continuous strip II, a longitudinal strip l2, and cross strips l3. The strip l I is shaped to conform to the contour of the neck and body of the guitar G. It is slightly larger in size, however, than the top of the guitar so that its serves to protect the marginal portions of the body of the guitar and also the edges or marginal portion of the neck of the guitar. The strip I2 is centrally positioned with respect to the strip H and is glued or otherwise fixedly secured at its ends to the end forming portions of the strip H. The cross strips l3 are preferably three in number and extend one across the large end of the frame, one across the central or intermediate portion of the frame, and one across the small end of the frame. The ends of the cross pieces are glued to the top faces of the side forming portions of the strip l l and the central portions of the cross strips are glued to the top face of the longitudinal strip l2. The strip 12, in addition to reinforcing the frame, overlies and protects the bridge and strings of the guitar G, as shown in Figure 5. The covering it overlies and conforms in shape to the frame 3. It is formed of readily or freely flexible fabric and has the marginal portions thereof glued to the top face of the strip I I. By reason of the fact that the covering I is formed of freely flexible fabric, the top 6 of the case conforms readily to the top of the guitar when the guitar is in the case and is not likely to scratch or mar the guitar in any way. Because the strips ll, I2 and E3 of the frame 9 are formed of comparatively stiff fiber board the top 3 oifers suflicient protection to the top of the guitar to prevent damage in the event that the case is inadvertently brought into contact withan object while the guitar G is being transported in it. The top or outer face of the covering W is preferably waterproofed in any suitable manner so that the top 6 serves as a protection against rain or moisture coming in contact with the top of the guitar G.

The bottom I is adapted to underlie the bottom of the guitar, as shown in Figure 5. It is constructed similarly to the top 6 and consists of a frame M and a fabric covering l5. The frame 14 is similar in size and design to the frame 3 and consists of a continuous strip it and a central longitudinally disposed strip H and cross strips H8. The strips l8 and H as well as the cross strips 58 are formed of stiff fiber board so that the frame M is substantially rigid. The strip I6 conforms to but is slightly larger than the bottom of the body and neck of the guitar and serves to protect the margins of the guitar bottom and the bottom of the guitar neck. The strip 11 is secured at its ends to the end forming portions of the strip l and overlie and are cemented to the central portions of the cross pieces l8. The ends of the latter pieces, as shown in Figure 5, are glued or otherwise secured to the side forming portions of the strip IS. The covering I5 is shaped conformably to the strip N5 of the frame 14 and has the margins thereof glued or cemented to the bottom face of said strip 16, The fabric covering 55 is preferably the same as the covering l0 and has a water-proof coating on its outer face so as to protect the bottom of the body and neck of the guitar against water or moisture.

The strip 8 forms the sides and small end of the case and is preferably made of the same freely flexible water-proof fabric as the coverings I0 and I5. The bottom margin of the strip 8 is turned outwardly so that it laps the top face of the strip it of the frame id, as shown in Figure 5, and is secured in place by means of a tape I9. This tape is folded or bent around the outer edge of the strip I6 so that the side margins thereof lap respectively the top or outer face of the bottom margin of the strip 8 and the bottom or outer face of the margin of the covering IS. The tape is held in place by means of stitching 20 which extends through the bottom margin of the strip 8 and the marginal portions of the strip I6 and the covering l5. The top margin of the strip 8 is bent or folded outwardly into a lapped relation into the bottom face of the strip ll of the frame 9. It is secured in place by means of a tape 2i which is folded around the outer margin of the strip l l and is secured in place by means of stitching 22. By reason of the fact that the strip 8 which forms the sides and small end of the case is made of flexible fabric the case is collapsible and the top and bottom may be shifted together as shown in Figure 2. The guitar G is inserted into and removed from the case through of the case.

the large end of the latter. This end of the case is normally closed by means of a pair of flaps 23 and 24. The flap 23 is secured to the large end portion of the strip 16 of the frame it by means of a tape 25 and stitching 28. The tape 25 is preferably in the nature of a continuation of the tape E9. The fiap 23 is stitched to the large end portion of the strip ll of the frame 3 and is adapted to lap the flap 23 as shown in Figure 1. Snap fasteners in the form of socket members 21 on the flap 24 and stud members (not shown) on the flap 23 serve to hold the two flaps in overlapped relation and to close the case when the guitar G is placed therein.

A handle 28 of any suitable flexible material is secured at its ends by studs or rivets 29 to the portion of the strip 8 which forms one of the sides Because the handle is formed of flexible material it may be readily folded between the top 6 and the bottom I when the case is collapsed.

In order to hold the top and bottom of the case in separated or extended relation when the guitar G is in the case collapsible braces 30 are provided. Each of these braces consists of a bracket 3|, an arm 32, and a bracket 33. The brackets 3| of the braces 38 are secured by rivets 34 to the strip l6 of the frame M of the bottom "I, and the brackets 33 are secured by rivets 35 to the strip I I of the frame 9 of the top 6. As shown in Figure 4 of the drawing the brackets 33 are slightly offset vertically with respect tothe brackets 3i and embody laterally projecting heads 36. The arms 32 extend between the top and bottom of the case and are pivotally connected at their lower ends to laterally extending studs 3? on the brackets 3|. Longitudinal slots 38 are formed in the arms 32 and in these slots ride the heads 36 on the brackets 33. When the top of the case is moved towards the bottom 1 the heads 36 slide toward the lower ends of the slots 38 and cause the arm 32 to swing into a position wherein they are substantially parallel to the bottom, as shown in dotted lines on Figure 4. In this position of the arms the braces are in a collapsed position. When the top 6 of the case is separated or shifted away from the bottom I the heads 33 on the brackets 32 slide toward the upper or distal ends of the slots 38 and swing the arms into a position wherein they extend substantially at right angles to the top and bottom of the case. Notches 39 are formed in the upper ends of the arms 32 and are adapted to receive the heads 36. When the heads 36 are shifted into these notches they are locked against longitudinal movement with respect to the arms 32 and the arms are thus held in their extended position and serve. to hold in separated or extended relation the topand bottom of the case. When it is desired to collapse the case the arms 32 are swung so as to dislodge the heads 36 from the notches 39 and bring them into the upper ends of the slots 38. As soon as the heads are dislodged from the notches and are again disposed in the slots 38 the braces 30 are released so that the top 6 of the case may be shifted against the bottom I. Preferably four collapsible braces 30 are employed and these braces are arranged so that two were applied to the large end of the case and two to the small end.

When it is desired to insert the guitar G into the case for carrying purposes the case is first expanded by shifting the top 6 away from the bottom 1. During shift of the top with respect to the bottom, the heads 36 on the brackets 33 ride in the slots 38 of the arms 32, as previously pointed out, and swing the arms into their right angle position as shown in Figure 4. When the top 6 is raised as far as permitted by the side and end forming strip 8 the arms 32 are manipulated so as to cause the heads 36 to be moved into the notches 39. With the heads in the notches the braces are locked in their extended position and hold the top and bottom in separated relation. After the top is extended with respect to the bottom, the flap 24 is unf'astened from the flap 2 3 so as to expose the opening in the large end of the case. Upon exposure of this opening the guitar is shifted into the case so that it assumes the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 5. In this position the corners of the body and neck of the guitar are protected by the strips II and I6 of the frames 9 and I 4 and the coverings l and I5 as well as the side and end forming strip 8, and the flaps 23 and 24, encase and completely house the guitar. To collapse the case after removal of the guitar it is only necessary, as hereinbefore pointed out, to dislodge the heads 36 of the brackets 33 from the notches 39 and then to shift the top 6 toward the bottom 7.

The herein described guitar case is extremely light because of the construction of the top and bottom and may be manufactured at an extremely low cost. By reason of the fact that the collapsible braces 3!) are employed the case has certain characteristics and features of a solid or rigid case.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a carrying case for a guitar or like string instrument, comprising a top and a bottom, each of which has its margin shaped to conform to the body and neck of the guitar, a strip extending between and united to the margins of the top and bottom and forming the two sides and the small end of the case and also forming an opening at the large end of the case whereby the guitar may be inserted into and removed from the case, said strip being formed of freely flexible material so that the top and bottom may be brought together into a collapsed position when the case is empty, a pair of flaps also of freely flexible material formed separately from the strip and attached to the large end portions of the top and bottom and adapted to close said large end of the case, and a handle associated with one of the side forming portions of the strip.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a carrying case for a guitar or like string instrument, comprising a top consisting of a comparatively stiff frame corresponding in contour to the body and neck of the guitar and including a central longitudinal strip for overlying and protecting the bridge and strings of the guitar and a covering of flexible material secured to the frame, a bottom corresponding in shape to the top, a strip extending between and united to the margins of the top and bottom and forming the two sides and the small end of the case and also forming an opening at the large end of the case whereby the guitar may be inserted into and removed from the case, said last mentioned strip being formed of freely flexible material so that thetop and bottom may be brought together into a collapsed position when the case is empty, flexible means for closing the large end of the case, and a handle associated with one of the side forming portions of the strip.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a carrying case for a guitar or like string instrument, comprising a top and a bottom, each of which consists of a substantially rigid frame shaped to conform to the body and neck of the guitar and including a central, longitudinally extending, reinforcing strip and cross strips, and a covering of flexible material secured to the frame, a strip extending between and united to the margins of the top and bottom and forming the two sides and the small end of the case and also forming an opening at the large end of the case whereby the guitar may be inserted into and removed from the case, said last mentioned strip being formed of freely flexible material so that the top and bottom may be brought together into a collapsed position when the case is empty, flexible means for closing the large end of the case, and a handle associated with one of the side forming portions of the strip.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a carrying case for a guitar or like string instrument, comprising a top and a bottom, each shaped to conform to the body and neck of the guitar, a strip extending between and united to the margins of the top and bottom and forming the two sides and the small end of the case, and also forming an opening at the large end of the case whereby the guitar may be inserted into and removed from the case, said strip being formed of freely flexible material so that the top and bottom may be brought together into a collapsed position when the case is empty, flexible means for closing the large end of the case, and collapsible braces between the margins of the top and bottom for holding the said top and bottom in their normal or separated position when the guitar is in the case.

NICHOLAS V. GEIB. 

